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Results & Next Steps

Your Asbestos Test Came Back Positive. Now What?

A positive result is not an emergency in most cases. Here are the three defensible paths — and how to choose between them.

5 min readUpdated May 30, 2025

Key takeaways

  • Undisturbed asbestos in good condition is usually best left in place.
  • Encapsulation is often the most cost-effective option for intact popcorn ceilings.
  • Abatement must be performed by a Florida-licensed contractor — followed by clearance testing.

Option 1: Leave it and manage it

If the material is intact, in a low-traffic area, and not scheduled for disturbance, an O&M plan and periodic re-inspection is often the right choice. This is standard for schools and many commercial buildings.

Option 2: Encapsulate

Encapsulation bonds the fibers in place using a specialized coating. For popcorn ceilings and pipe insulation, this is often significantly cheaper than removal and can be done with minimal disruption.

Option 3: Abate and clear

For renovations, sales, or damaged materials, licensed abatement is the answer. Independent clearance testing after the work confirms the space is safe to re-occupy — and provides documentation for lenders, insurers, and buyers.

Reviews

4.9★ average from 287+ Boca Raton neighbors

Real reviews from homeowners, property managers, and contractors across Palm Beach and Broward counties.

"Called at 8am about our popcorn ceiling before a sale. Inspector was here by 11 and I had the lab report the next morning. Professional and clear about what to do next."
Marcia D.Boca Raton, FL
"We manage 14 rental properties across Palm Beach. These are the only inspectors we use anymore — reports are always defensible and the pricing is transparent."
Andres R.Delray Beach, FL
"Honest people. They told us we probably didn't need to remove our floor tile if we weren't disturbing it — that saved us $8k. We used them for the clearance later."
Karen L.Boynton Beach, FL
"Needed a NESHAP demo survey on a tight permit timeline. They had the sealed report to my desk in 48 hours. Real pros."
Jason W.Deerfield Beach, FL

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